Ram Mileage problems since new exhaust

[corinne1]

I have a 2001 Ram 1500 laramie SLT V8 5.2L It had a K&N air filter when I bought it and I decided to put on a FlowPro exhaust. I was told I would get better mileage but have dropped from 14mpg around town to 13 mpg. I understand the filter is good for 1 million miles and learned I can buy a cleaning kit. But I don't understand why my mileage has gone down so much???

[BleedDodge]

You call that going down a lot? Your driving habits probably changed a little bit when you got that exhaust put on...

[indyram]

that's most likely it. the best time to check it is if you go somewhere extended on the highway. you don't actually need the cleaning kit from k&n just a little water and low pressure from an air compressor have worked great for me

[corinne1]

Originally Posted by BleedDodge

You call that going down a lot? Your driving habits probably changed a little bit when you got that exhaust put on...

LOL!! I suppose I'm just a bit paranoid

[BleedDodge]

Yeah, whatever gave you that calculation for the 1 mpg drop is probably just something that had to do with your driving habits. You might have idled the truck a little bit more one day or drove a little harder another day or something, 1 mpg is just no cause for concern because it's such a small difference in mileage that it can't be traced to what caused it...

I know when I had the big pipes and Dynomax mufflers put on my truck, I found myself running harder and faster, just to hear the truck bark. I'd rev it higher and stuff like that. I don't know what your driving habits are like, but maybe you're the same way. I wouldn't be worried about a 1 mpg drop, unless it was all highway driving at a constant speed, then I would maybe take a second look at things...